US Now Requires Green Card Applicants to Apply from Abroad
US Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that foreign nationals in the US must leave and apply for green cards in their home countries, except in "extraordinary circumstances". This policy reverses a decades-old practice that allowed in-country processing for spouses of US citizens, work and student visa holders, refugees, and asylum seekers. Advocates warn it could lead to indefinite family separations, especially for applicants from countries facing travel bans or paused visa services. USCIS says the change restores the original intent of immigration law and will help ensure visitors leave if their green card applications are denied. The agency has not clarified how pending applications or those already in process will be handled, nor provided figures on how many people will be affected.
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